The Plan LII by Tim Bourke (AUS)

Source: IBPA Column Service Jun 2018 Dealer South. N/S Vul

	K Q 2 K 10 8 6 A 7 6 2 A 7
— A Q J 5 Q 10 4 3 Q J 10 9 5		J 7 5 3 9 7 4 3 J 9 8  8 4
	A 10 9 8 6 4 2 K 5 K 6 3 2

West	North	East	South
			1
Dbl	Rdbl	2	2
Pass	6	End

Both pairs in a teams match reached six spades. Both declarers received the opening lead of the queen of clubs. At the first table, declarer called for dummy’s ace of clubs. He cashed the king of trumps and was disappointed to see West discard a club.

After leading the two of trumps to East’s five and his ten, declarer led a heart. West rose with the ace of hearts and exited with the jack of clubs, taken by declarer with the king. Now there was no way for declarer to make a twelfth trick because he did not have the entries both to ruff a club and trump coup East. At the second table, declarer took trick one in hand to lead a heart. West rose with the ace and exited with a club to dummy’s now-bare ace. Next, declarer cashed the king of hearts and ruffed a heart. Only then did he lead a trump to dummy’s king, getting the bad news of the 4-0 trump break. Declarer continued by ruffing a second heart, then cashing the king and ace of diamonds and ruffing a diamond. At trick eleven, declarer ruffed his remaining club with dummy’s queen of trumps, for his tenth trick. Declarer could then claim the last two tricks, as his ace-ten of trumps was over East’s jack-seven.